Search Results (376)

As global climate change accelerates, the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon has become increasingly pronounced, posing significant challenges to urban energy balance, atmospheric processes, and public health. This study used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to dynamically downscale two CMIP6 scenarios—moderate forcing (SSP245) and high forcing (SSP585)—focusing on Zhengzhou, a rapidly urbanizing city in central China. High-resolution simulations captured fine-scale intra-urban temperature patterns and analyze the spatial and seasonal variations in UHI intensity in 2030 and 2060. The results demonstrated significant seasonal variations in UHI effects in Zhengzhou for both 2030 and 2060 under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, with the most pronounced warming in summer. Notably, under the SSP245 scenario, elevated autumn temperatures in suburban areas reduced the urban–rural temperature gradient, while intensified rural cooling during winter enhanced the UHI effect. These findings underscore the importance of integrating high-resolution climate modeling into urban planning and developing targeted adaptation strategies based on future UHI patterns to address climate challenges. Full article

In the past two decades, little information has been updated to understand the resource status of the crab species Ovalipes punctatus in the East China Sea Region. In this study, we conducted surveys in 2018 and 2019 to identify the seasonal spatial distribution patterns of the economically important sand crab Ovalipes punctatus (De Haan 1833) in the southern Yellow and East China Seas. In the study area, the largest biomass of crabs was observed in the fishing grounds of Dasha and the Yangtze River mouth, and the second largest biomass was detected in the Jiangwai-Zhouwai area. Seasonally, the total biomass order in these areas was summer > autumn & winter > spring, and the mean average individual weight order was spring & summer > winter > autumn. These findings provided maps of the seasonal spatial distribution pattern of the species across seasons, which were then used in climate-change scenario models. Model predictions suggested that O. punctatus might migrate northward and offshore under climate warming conditions, and that the climate scenario SSP585-2100 might be the most negative case, respectively, for the habitat area of gain% minus loss%. These data can be used to develop robust and systematic regional fisheries resource management policies that consider adaptation measures to address the impact of environmental and climate change along China’s coasts and other areas in the world. Full article

In wet subtropical environments, perennial groundcovers are common in horticultural plantations to protect the soil from erosion. However, there has been little investigation into whether seeding annual cover crops into the perennial groundcovers provides additional soil services including carbon and nutrient cycling in these systems. To investigate this, farmer participatory field trials were conducted in commercial avocado, macadamia, and coffee plantations in the wet Australian subtropics. Cover crops were direct-seeded into existing inter-row groundcovers in winter (cool season cover crops), and into the same plots the following summer (warm season cover crops). Inter-row biomass was quantified at the end of winter and summer in the control (no cover crop) and cover crops treatments. Soil carbon and nutrient cycling parameters including hot water extractable carbon, water soluble carbon, autoclavable citrate-extractable protein and soil enzyme activities were quantified every two months from early spring (September) 2021 to late autumn (May) 2022. Seeded cover crops produced 500 to 800 kg ha⁻¹ more total inter-row biomass over winter at the avocado coffee sites, and 3000 kg ha⁻¹ biomass in summer at the coffee site. However, they had no effect on biomass production in either season at the macadamia site. Soil functional parameters changed with season (i.e., time of sampling), with few significant effects of cover crop treatments on soil function parameters across the three sits. Growing a highly productive annual summer cover crop at the coffee site led to suppression and death of perennial groundcovers, exposing bare soil in the inter-row by 3 weeks after termination of the summer cover crop. Annual cover crops seeded into existing perennial groundcovers in tree crop systems had few significant impacts on soil biological function over the 12-month period, and their integration needs careful management to avoid investment losses and exacerbating the risk of soil erosion on sloping lands in the wet subtropics. Full article

In a warming climate, rising temperature are expected to influence atmospheric humidity. This study examined the spatio-temporal dynamics of temperature (TEMP) and relative humidity (RH) across Equatorial Africa from 1980 to 2020. The analysis used RH data from European Centre of Medium-range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v.5 (ERA5) reanalysis, TEMP and precipitation (PRE) from Climate Research Unit (CRU), and soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration (ET) from the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM). In addition, four teleconnection indices were considered: El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). This study used the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator to analyze trends, alongside multiple linear regression to investigate the relationships between TEMP, RH, and key climatic variables—namely evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture (SM), and precipitation (PRE)—as well as large-scale teleconnection indices (e.g., IOD, ENSO, PDO, and NAO) on annual and seasonal scales. The key findings are as follows: (1) mean annual TEMP exceeding 30 °C and RH less than 30% were concentrated in arid regions of the Sahelian–Sudano belt in West Africa (WAF), Central Africa (CAF) and North East Africa (NEAF). Semi-arid regions in the Sahelian–Guinean belt recorded moderate TEMP (25–30 °C) and RH (30–60%), while the Guinean coastal belt and Congo Basin experienced cooler, more humid conditions (TEMP < 20 °C, RH (60–90%). (2) Trend analysis using Mann–Kendal and Sen slope estimator analysis revealed spatial heterogeneity, with increasing TEMP and deceasing RH trends varying by region and season. (3) The warming rate was higher in arid and semi-arid areas, with seasonal rates exceeding annual averages (0.18 °C decade⁻¹). Winter (0.27 °C decade⁻¹) and spring (0.20 °C decade⁻¹) exhibited the strongest warming, followed by autumn (0.18 °C decade⁻¹) and summer (0.10 °C decade⁻¹). (4) RH trends showed stronger seasonal decline compared to annual changes, with reduction ranging from 5 to 10% per decade in certain seasons, and about 2% per decade annually. (5) Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a strong negative relationship between TEMP and RH with a correlation coefficient of r = − 0.60. (6) Significant associations were also observed between TEMP/RH and both climatic variables (ET, SM, PRE) and large scale-teleconnection indices (ENSO, IOD, PDO, NAO), indicating that surface conditions may reflect a combination of local response and remote climate influences. However, further analysis is needed to distinguish the extent to which local variability is independently driven versus being a response to large-scale forcing. Overall, this research highlights the physical mechanism linking TEMP and RH trends and their climatic drivers, offering insights into how these changes may impact different ecological and socio-economic sectors. Full article

The Eastern Mediterranean region is experiencing accelerated climate warming, yet localized patterns remain poorly understood, particularly in areas with complex topography. This study examines long-term air temperature trends from 1992 to 2024 at two sites in Lebanon: Beirut Airport (urban–coastal) and Houch Al Oumaraa station in Zahlé (inland–valley). Using homogeneity testing, linear regression, and the Mann–Kendall trend test, we assess trends in minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures. The results show a strong and statistically significant warming trend in Beirut, with mean temperatures rising by +0.536 °C per decade and minimum temperatures showing the steepest increase (+0.575 °C/decade). In Zahlé, the warming trend is less pronounced, particularly for maximum temperatures (+0.369 °C/decade), while minimum temperatures increased by +0.528 °C/decade. Data from fixed stations and drone-based vertical profiling in Zahlé confirmed the presence of cold-air pooling and thermal inversions, which moderate air temperatures and may contribute to a subdued warming trend. The strongest inversion recorded in 2022 reached 6.7 °C between ground level and an altitude of 500 m. In contrast, the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Beirut and Zahlé appear to drive nighttime warming, particularly in summer and early autumn months. These findings highlight the roles of topography and urbanization in shaping local climate trends. Full article

Urbanization and cropland irrigation modify land surface water and energy budgets in different ways; however, few observational studies have explicitly quantified their contrasts. Using high-resolution observations from over 2000 surface weather stations and urban and irrigation fraction data, this study investigated the individual and combined effects of urbanization and cropland irrigation on surface air temperature over the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region in China, where highly urbanized areas and heavily irrigated croplands exist together. The results indicate that (1) the daytime irrigation cooling (with surface air temperature decreasing by ~0.1–0.5 °C at irrigated stations) was non-negligible in late autumn, early winter, and later spring months, when winter wheat irrigation mainly occurred over the BTH region, while a slight warming was observed at many irrigated stations during the nighttime. By contrast, urban warming was most pronounced in the nighttime, especially in winter, and the daytime warming at urban sites was much weaker and comparable to the magnitude of cooling induced by concurrent irrigation for winter wheat. (2) Collectively, the vast stretches of irrigated croplands helped mitigate urban warming, and their combined effect on the daytime surface air temperature over the whole region resulted in a slight cooling of ~0.2 °C in some of the winter wheat-growing months. (3) The contrasting temperature changes due to urbanization and irrigation were spatially variable. Beijing was predominantly characterized by urban warming, while Shijiazhuang, with extensive irrigation, exhibited irrigation cooling (or slight warming) during the daytime (or nighttime) in most of the winter wheat-growing months, which could be a possible contributor to the daytime cooling (or stronger nighttime warming) at urban sites. This work highlights the temperature contrasts between urban areas and surrounding irrigated croplands, as well as the potential role of extensive irrigation in mitigating (or enhancing) daytime (or nighttime) urban warming. Full article

This study evaluated the impact of a ground channel ventilation system on seasonal ammonia emissions in a swine-finishing barn over three distinct seasons: summer, late autumn, and winter. The ground channel system tempered inlet air, cooling it during summer and warming it during colder seasons, maintaining stable room temperatures despite external fluctuations. During summer, the ground channel reduced the incoming air temperature from 26.9 °C to 22.5 °C, contributing to steady barn temperatures (28.0 °C) and mitigating ammonia emissions, which reached 111.0 ± 23.6 g day⁻¹ AU⁻¹. In late autumn and winter, it warmed the inlet air from 4.7 °C and −0.7 °C to 8.1 °C and 6.8 °C, respectively, maintaining stable room temperatures (25.1 °C and 24.3 °C). Ammonia emissions remained consistent across seasons, with 125.0 ± 37.3 g day⁻¹ AU⁻¹ in late autumn and 107.1 ± 20.5 g day⁻¹ AU⁻¹ in winter. Thus, ammonia emissions showed no seasonal differences, highlighting the system’s effectiveness in balancing ventilation rates with emissions. During late autumn and winter, it improved air quality without compromising thermal comfort for the swine. In summer, the reduced ventilation demand lowered ammonia emissions, supporting the effective management of ammonia emissions year-round. Future research should investigate the system’s effects on other gases and slurry pit temperatures. Full article

Climate warming leads to earlier onset and shortened duration of the freeze–thaw period in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, which has complex effects on vegetation growth. We assessed the spatiotemporal changes in the freeze–thaw period, evaluated its relationship with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI from remotely sensed data), used the Panel Smooth Threshold Regression (PSTR) model to quantify the nonlinear impacts and identify critical thresholds, and applied ridge regression to explore the dominant mechanisms under different climatic conditions. The results showed the following: (1) The duration of the freeze–thaw transition period showed strong latitudinal zonality, with stronger spring disturbances than autumn ones. The trend of soil freeze–thaw status in high-altitude areas is the most significant, with a significant increase in the complete thaw period (CTP) and a significant decrease in the complete freeze period (CFP). (2) The earlier onset of the spring freeze–thaw period (SFTTP) and the CTP benefits vegetation growth in both early and late seasons. The delayed autumn freeze–thaw period (AFTTP) benefits early-season vegetation growth but is less favorable for late-season growth. The delayed CFP is beneficial for vegetation growth throughout the year. (3) The CTP’s boost to NDVI collapses at an onset date of 110 days and duration of 190 days. The AFTTP’s benefit peaks at an onset date of 300 days. (4) Temperature and the CTP are key drivers of NDVI changes, especially in the mid-to-late growing season. Arid areas respond strongly to freeze–thaw disturbances, while moderate precipitation areas are less affected. This study is the first to quantitatively analyze the nonlinear mechanism of the freeze–thaw–vegetation relationship, offering a new theoretical basis. Full article

Overfishing and climate change have led to the depletion of fishery resources in the offshore South China Sea. The purpleback flying squid (Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) has emerged as a promising alternative due to its ecological and economic value. However, information on its preferred habitat conditions remains scarce. This study integrates geostatistical and fisheries oceanographic approaches to explore optimal spatial–temporal scales for habitat modeling and to assess habitat changes under warming scenarios. Utilizing fishery data from 2013 to 2017, environmental variables including SST, sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA), and chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL) were analyzed. Fishing effort data revealed significant seasonal differences, with the highest vessel numbers in summer and the lowest in autumn. Among the six modeling schemes, the combination of 0.5° × 0.5° spatial resolution and seasonal temporal resolution yielded the highest HSI model accuracy (84.02%). Optimal environmental ranges varied by season. Simulations of SST deviations (±0.2 °C, ±0.5 °C, and ±1 °C) showed that extreme warming or cooling could eliminate suitable habitats. These findings highlight the vulnerability of squid habitats to thermal shifts and support adaptive fishery strategies in the South China Sea. Full article

This paper presents a five-year study monitoring cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) flight dynamics using pheromonal traps and a study relating to the behavior of nine maize hybrids from two maturity groups in response to a pest attack in 2024. The monitoring and field assessments were conducted in Southeast Romania, Călărași County, at the NARDI Fundulea. During the monitoring period, from 2020 to 2024, air temperature was higher than average in the summer months while rainfall was below average, except in June 2021. The total number of moths captured in the traps was 246 in 2020, 406 in 2021, 5064 in 2022, 1024 in 2023, and 4145 in 2024. In the middle of July 2022, the average captured moths per trap was 483.3; in the middle of September, it was 589.0 catches. In 2024, in the last 10 days of July, the average captured moths per trap was 311.7; in the last 10 days of August, it was 358.0, while in the middle of September, it was 362.3. In 2024, at the beginning of August, the attack incidence of corn earworm on maize hybrids ranged from 43.75 to 53.75%, and on 13 September, it was 100% for all hybrids. This is the first report from southeast Romania that mentions a higher population of cotton bollworm in the late summer and beginning of autumn and the first report to mention a large number of pest attacks on maize cobs in September. Full article

The increase in the carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration is a major driver of global warming, presenting significant challenges to ecosystems and human societies. Satellite remote sensing technology can monitor the continuous spatial variation of the atmospheric CO₂ column concentration (XCO₂), but its global application is limited by the narrow observational swath. To address this, this study effectively integrates XCO₂ data retrieved from the GOSAT and OCO-2 satellites using atmospheric profile adjustment and spatial grid integration techniques. Based on this, a multi-machine learning ensemble algorithm (MLE) was developed, which successfully estimated the spatially continuous XCO₂ concentration in China from 2010 to 2022 (ChinaXCO₂-MLE). The results indicate that, compared to individual satellite observations, the integration of multi-source satellite XCO₂ data significantly improves the spatiotemporal coverage. The overall R² of the MLE model was 0.97, with an RMSE of 0.87 ppmv, outperforming single machine learning models. The ChinaXCO₂-MLE shows good consistency with the observational records from two background stations in China, with R² values of 0.93 and 0.78, and corresponding RMSEs of 1.00 ppmv and 1.32 ppmv. This study also reveals the seasonal and regional variations in China’s XCO₂ concentration: the highest concentration occurs in spring, the lowest concentration occurs in northern regions during summer, and the lowest concentration occurs in southern regions during autumn. From 2010 to 2022, the XCO₂ concentration continued to rise, but the growth rate has slowed due to the implementation of air pollution prevention and energy conservation policies. The spatially continuous XCO₂ data provide a more comprehensive understanding of carbon variation and offer a valuable reference for achieving China’s carbon neutrality goals. Full article

This study assesses the projected impacts of climate change on hydrological processes in the Gersprenz catchment, a representative low mountain range basin in central Germany, under the RCP8.5 scenario. Using the SWAT+ model and a bias-corrected climate projection ensemble, it simulates the temporal and spatial dynamics of water availability, discharge and water temperature through 2100. The results indicate a substantial reduction in seasonal discharge, with summer minima decreasing by 85% and autumn minima decreasing by 38% compared to the baseline. Rising air temperatures drive substantial warming, with maximum summer water temperatures projected to exceed 28 °C, increasing thermal stress on aquatic ecosystems. Spatial analysis reveals strong variability: Southern subcatchments, located in the upstream part of the catchment, face severe water deficits, while groundwater-fed springs provide localized thermal refuges but with limited buffering capacity. Northern regions generally show higher resilience, with exceptions. The findings highlight the fine-scale sensitivity of hydrological processes to climate change, shaped by catchment characteristics and amplified by natural seasonal variations. This study presents a framework for identifying spatio-temporal hotspots of water scarcity at the subcatchment scale, providing a basis for spatially targeted adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on regional water resources and ecosystems. Full article

The offshore transport of coastal water masses in the East China Sea is vital for maintaining ecological stability. Understanding its spatial-temporal pathways helps clarify material transport and ecological responses. This study used total suspended sediment (TSS) data from the Korean Geostationary Ocean Color Imager to analyze TSS distribution and anomalies, combined with satellite-derived surface residual currents. Results show significant seasonal variations: coastal water masses expand to the 50 m isobath in winter and contract to the 20 m isobath in summer. Offshore transport pathways vary spatially, extending to the shelf edge north of 28° N but restricted by the Taiwan Warm Current south of 28° N. A persistent transport pathway near 28° N shifts from northeastward to eastward. Other pathways include one south of Hangzhou Bay (spring and autumn) linked to tidal mixing and another north of the Yangtze River estuary (summer) following the Yangtze River Diluted Water. These findings provide crucial observational insights for modeling material cycling in the East China Sea shelf. Full article

Background/Objectives: Foehn, a warm, dry wind blowing down into the valleys of a mountain, is a typical weather condition in southern Germany. Until now, there have been no data regarding the impact of foehn on aortic aneurysm ruptures in the Alpine regions, analyzed in this study. Methods: In this retrospective German dual-center study (University Augsburg, University Munich) were enrolled 152 patients with a rupture of the thoracic aortic aneurysm (rTAA), abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA), and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (rTAAA), living within 20 km of weather measuring stations. We analyzed the risk factors for aortic aneurysm rupture dependent on weather changes in southern Germany using the meteorological data from January 2010 to December 2019. Results: The most common form of ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA) was abdominal aortic rupture in both sexes (64.5% men, 17.1% women). The incidence rate of rAAA from Augsburg and Munich was 20.4% in spring, 26.3% in autumn, 28.9% in summer, and 24.3% in winter. Indeed, in Augsburg, rAAAs occurred most often during winter months (32%), while in Munich the majority of cases occurred during summer (32%). We observed that aortic ruptures on days with a tendency for southerly wind flow and lower air pressure were correlated with foehn in southern Germany. Conclusion: The occurrence of foehn days could be a relevant risk factor for increased incidence of rAA. Full article

Bahía de Los Ángeles (BLA) is located on the peninsular coast of the Gulf of California, near to the midriff islands. It is a greatly diverse ecosystem and a marine protected area due to its importance for whale sharks, turtles, and reef fishes. The bay also supports commercial fisheries that require ecological information for the integrated management of resources. Zooplankton studies are required as is an essential link in the trophic webs. There are few zooplankton studies in BLA focused mainly on the major taxa and species of copepods and cladocerans. Only one study addressed the seasonal variation in zooplankton but with gaps in the sampling. Here, we report the monthly changes in the zooplankton abundance and the composition of the major groups and cladoceran species. Eighty-one samples were collected between September 2017 and January 2019. The holoplankton taxa identified numbered 17, which accounts for 93% of the mean abundance (range 71–100%), with copepods and cladocerans being dominant. The meroplankton consisted of 15 taxa with a greater presence during the warm months (summer–autumn), dominated by the larval stages of bivalves, gastropods, and barnacles. In contrast, many copepod nauplii were found in January associated with low temperatures. Only cladacerans were identified to the species level. They showed strong seasonal fluctuations, reaching a third of the total zooplankton from spring to autumn, with Penilia avirostris being the most abundant species. These results are compared with other temperate and tropical coastal locations of the eastern Pacific. Full article